As the Coronavirus intensifies in the whole world, demand for maintaining a balance between environment and local tourism factors and thus Sustainable Tourism comes into play all the more.

What is Sustainable Tourism? Will it play an important role in the post COVID period? Does it really have an impact on the overall tourism world? Can we really form a balance between the various entities and develop sound Sustainable Tourism.

If you destroy the environmental resources on which major business depends, the future will be at risk.
To maintain this balancing role of each & every member of the society is critical right from the Government, Companies, tourists, local community, etc.

Sustainable Tourism is not a new terminology to us

The concept of Sustainable Tourism goes back to the 1990s when it was certain that development meets our needs today without compromising on the ability of people and to meet their future needs.

The apt solution is to sustain the tourist destination and maintain the steady flow of future travelers.
There is definitely an imbalance that is created by the global shifts in population & the earth’s depleting finite resources. Despite various innovations in technology and access to global information, we are lacking in maintaining adequate balance in nature. We are burning fossil fuels and playing with our environment all the time. It is not only the duty of the Government but also the responsibility of local communities, tourism associations, tourists as well. We have to preserve our cultural identities and natural heritage that has given us so much throughout our lives. All this needs to be managed amidst the rapid Industrialization & development.

Capability Of Sustainable Tourism In The New Era

Sustainable Tourism encourages a deep understanding of the impacts of travel & tourism. It ensures a fair distribution of benefits & costs. It generates ample foreign exchange and local employment for the local community. Enhancement & Improvements in local transportation takes place. Sustainable Tourism stimulates profitable domestic industries and creates sufficient recreational facilities. Nature Tourism encourages productive use of lands that are marginal for agriculture.  The bottom line is Sustainable Tourism monitors, accesses, and manages the impacts of tourism and leads to the diversification of the economy.

There are various subcategories of Sustainable Tourism that plays a very important role.

Ecotourism – Ecotourism, as alternative tourism, involves visiting natural areas in order to learn, to study, or to carry out activities environmentally friendly, that is, the travel industry dependent on the nature experience, which empowers the monetary and social improvement of neighborhood networks.

Ex: Visits to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, Homestays, and Eco-tours.

Responsible tourism – Responsible Tourism is taking responsibility for making tourism sustainable and about what people do to address the many specific related issues.

Ex: A solar-powered resort, controlled tourism, sustained tour operators

Soft Tourism is the term used to describe the type of adventure tourism that requires little or no experience and is low risk (as opposed to hard tourism which requires greater levels of skill and incorporates more significant risk).

Ex:  horse riding, snorkeling, kayaking, and walking in areas of natural beauty.

Environmental friendly Tourism – The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people.”

Ex: Eco tour companies conducting wild safaris, Eco-lodges, Marine conservation reserve.

Alternative Tourism – Alternative Tourism involves travel that is personal and authentic and encourages interaction with the local environment, people, and communities. Alternative Tourism includes package tours and individual tourist services in the following areas.

Ex: Biking, snowshoeing, diving, caving, etc.

Minimum Impact Tourism – Low-impact tourism is about sustainable travel and leisure activities that directly benefit local communities and that are respectful of wildlife, local people, and their cultures – including travel that minimizes our negative impact on the environment and the places we visit.

Ex:  Zero waste toiletries, minimizing the carbon footprint

Sustainable Tourism Has Its Own Effects

Impact on levels of Air, water, noise, visual pollution has to be minimized. We have to use natural resources like water, land, food in an efficient manner.  Wildlife, Safaris, Zoo, habitats must be protected.
The host community should distribute the benefits of tourism and have a degree of control over local tourism.
Tourists’ concerns and behavior have to be studied. Operational practices of Tourism organizations must emphasize recycling, purchasing, waste disposal, energy conservation to have a positive impact on the environment.
Industry, to regulate the impact of sustainable tourism should work on self-regulation,  develop relations with the host community, drive sustainable tourism-related initiatives, and develop employment policies.
Public sector policy should focus on issues of funding, legislation & planning.
Certain Conservation practices & policies to be developed on landscapes, townscapes, wildlife, etc.

Ways To Make A Positive Impact

We have to establish ecological limits and more equitable standards. Encouraging consumption standards will be imperative.  There should be a systematic redistribution of economic activity and reallocation of resources.

A detailed study must be done on carrying capacity and sustainable yield. Rigorous measures must be taken to control the population. All the resources should be retained.  Basic resources like natural systems, atmosphere, waters, soil, living beings need to be conserved.  We must minimize the adverse impacts on the quality of air, water, and other natural elements to sustain the ecosystem’s overall integrity.

These measures will ensure Economic Viability and control the community over development decisions affecting local ecosystems.

All of this coupled with the Broad National & International policy framework, Environmental Quality, Environmental audit will be beneficial and help us to maintain an apt balance between nature & human beings.

Responsibility Makes Everything Better !!!!!

Accommodation – environmental impact of new buildings and operations like waste disposal. Role of multinational chains, human resource policies like sex and race discrimination, and wage levels.

Transport – use of fuel, land required for infrastructure of roads and airports, traffic congestion on the roads.

Tour operators – volume and types of trips tourists take to the destinations, relations with local suppliers, educating tourists about sustainable issues at resorts.
Visitor attractions – environmental impact of new buildings and operations, relations with the local community, employment policies.

Retail travel – role in creating tourist expectations, advice about destination – religion, culture, and health issues, political problems. Destination management – public sector planning and economic development strategies, public sector subsidies & regulation of the tourism industry, financial development for new developments, tourist taxes, and how the revenue is spent.

 Human Resources – Recruitment of local and immigrant labor, training & education, discrimination on the grounds of race and discrimination, wage levels & working conditions, management styles.
Finance – short term views, long term financial planning, the impact of cost reduction measures on the environment, staff, and the host community.

Operations – purchasing policies, waste disposal, energy conservation & pollution.

Marketing – attracting tourists to already overcrowded destinations & areas of fragile environments, raising and shaping tourist expectations.

Result A Cut Above The Rest

Sustainable Tourism is the responsibility of everyone right from us to the various authorities. Taking appropriate action now will surely reap the bright benefits in the future and make our world a better and safe place to live.

To better the Sustainable Tourism structure major social awareness campaign involving schools, NGO’S, Industry Associations have to be involved.  Suitable incentives & awards should be awarded to the right candidates to motivate them. Without the financial assistance of the Centre & State, the sound working would not be possible.